Jenskott: Glad you liked all that and I hope you join up on the board. We had someone to play Rachel but I think she left.
Sparky Genocide: Yeah Logan will be pissed but not just with that of course, more Romy later since there's a lot more to this story.
japanesegirl101: Well there was the episode called X23 and one more in the final season.
The Uncanny R-Man: Yep, major fights are up next.
Ruby631: We got an idea on who to bring in for Amara, don't worry.
Cold queen: We can only fit in so many characters in a chapter and that happens now and then.
Mark C: Yeah I wanted to show just how important that book is, glad you liked Rogue's first date and how it ended, yeah she's on her way to healing. Yep I wanted to show how Scott's her rock as you said in this chapter. As for X23 you'll have to wait and see.
Doza: There are different kind of villains and you can't have them all like Apocalypse because that's boring to see the same thing over and over again, I was going for the cleaver mastermind here. But he will get action later on, and yes I did mind in a way but that's your opinion and I'm not against those.
GothikStrawberry: Glad you liked the couple scenes in this and with the training bit too I liked writing that part. He'll get his ass kicked in the end, trust me on this.
Thanks to: X00001, Simba317, Wen1, LadyDeathStrike1, misspresh, Silver Warrior, Coldqueen, Bensbrokenbones, morning star, Kaliann, ViciousAssassin
Hellfire and BrimstoneCHAPTER 40: A SINISTER ATTACK
Sinister and his minions were in the air in a specialized aircraft that he had extensively modified in order to prevent it from being seen. They were on their way to Bayville and as he piloted the craft, he also had them all wear devices that the cyborg soldiers had worn to prevent them from being sensed by telepaths since they would be so close to Xavier this time and the other telepaths and he wouldn't take any chances. He had operatives keeping a very distant eye on them, watching as they came and went and he had been studying them for some time. He hoped to get certain targets and then some for his own personal use, but he would have to see what fate had in store.
Being part of the Hellfire Club had given him many resources and his talents helped to give them a technological edge in the world in fact several patents came form his work, but he wasn't interested in money or power. His designs were far more grand and complex then that and he was on his own path to make the world a much more perfect place. And soon, he could start what he had been planning for over a century. All the waiting, the planning, and moving pieces around just as they needed to be placed would make it so all of it would be worth while. He had sacrificed his old life for his need to complete his quest and it was all about to come together.
X23, on the other hand, had been watching and waiting for everyone to get just relaxed enough for her to make a move. She knew she would have to be fast, but she had seen the parachutes and had planed on grabbing one as she would open a hatch and fall out. She hoped that there was a range limit to the device in the back of her neck and she planned on after reaching that to rip the thing out if she had to. She made one last look and then quickly slipped out of her seat and silently made her way to the back and just when she was about to grab a parachute she screamed in pain as she fell to the floor.
Everyone looked back to see her on the floor, but Sinister spoke up before anyone reacted. "Viper please take over the controls will you," he said simply as she took them in the co-pilot seat as he got up to the screaming girl and then picked up by the throat and slammed her against the metal.
"You may be wearing a telepathic blocker as well, but the device in your neck still gives me access to your mind and with your mind being the only one I'm sensing, did you honestly think you could get away from me?" he asked her coldly as his rage rose and slammed her hard against the wall.
She whimpered in pain as he made her ability to feel pain four times as sensitive, "You are nothing more then a clone, and not even a decent one at that. You are a flawed and failed experiment. You have no other purpose, but to serve your masters. You are not a person…You are a thing."
He slammed a fist into her gut and let her drop as she cradled her stomach, "You will do your duty or I will fry your brain and make you feel so much pain that I will send you from this world screaming in agony!" He kicked her head, making her sprawled on the floor a few feet away then kicked her in the ribs.
"You are just a clone and I can always make more. You are expendable…Never forget that. You have no purpose without me and it's time you accept that…Now when you heal up, get back in your seat and do your job…Or I will make you wish that you were never created," he said in a low tone in her ear as he went back to the piloting station and X23 never felt more helpless in her life. The others had watched this not saying a word and with varying thoughts.
Deadpool didn't really like to see the kid get treated like that, but on the other hand he wasn't getting paid to question the boss. Yuriko had mixed feelings about the matter, for on one hand the girl was a tragic figure like herself, but she was also her way to get to Logan and in a way was his 'daughter' and what better revenge them to use his 'family' to avenge hers? Gauntlet didn't care either way…In fact, still held a grudge towards the girl after what happened last time with Hydra. And as for Viper, she just wished she hadn't gotten off so light and had hoped Sinister had at least broken a few of her bones.
Rogue's Room
After her successful and momentous date with Remy Lebeau, Rogue seemed to harbor a perpetual grin on her face the likes of which she hadn't shown in, well…Ever. All her hardship and struggle seemed to finally ease in wake of forging the memory of that date that now hung so fresh in her mind. Never in a million years would Rogue ever have imagined that she could experience something like she had with Remy. Now she was beginning to feel that she had deep, true, honest feelings for the guy…Feelings that could definitely lead to something far deeper than she ever could have imagined. And unlike so many other complications in her life, she could actually pursue this and allow it to blossom because now she could touch, feel, and explore the things that were once denied to her because of her powers.
Such an amazing night gave her plenty to talk about and among those who were very eager to know, Kitty Pryde seemed to be clamoring for details the most. Being that she was Rogue's old roommate, she knew her a little better than most people and could tell when something major was going on for her…And this was definitely major in her mind.
"Ooh, Remy sounds like such a romantic!" cooed Kitty as she sat on Rogue's bed as she told her a few details about her date.
"Yeah…He is," admitted Rogue, "It's just sometimes hard to determine when he's bein' romantic and when he's just bein' cocky."
"Hey, there's no rule that says a guy can't be confident," shrugged Kitty, thinking it was just Rogue nitpicking since she wasn't all too familiar with dates.
"Ah know, and Ah guess if either of us needed to be confident about anything…It was last night," said Rogue as she remembered some of the anxieties she harbored last night that now seemed so mundane, "Ah can't tell ya how scared I was…Ah mean, I was practically freakin' out at times."
"Well it was, like, your first date Rogue," said Kitty in an understanding tone, "Believe me, I've been there. I remember how nervous I was when I went on my first date with Lance…Then again, that didn't go anywhere nearly as good as yours did from what you've told me. Remy sounds like such a gentleman."
"Yeah, that's kinda what helped meh ease into things," said Rogue a she smiled somewhat at the memory, "The scariest part of the whole dang ordeal was probably just walkin' down those steps to meet up with him. Hell, Ah thought Ah was gonna trip on mah own feet, fall down, and break mah neck!"
"Well wouldn't that be, like, impossible now since you can, like, take a battering ram in the Danger Room with your bare hands?" questioned Kitty with a light giggle.
Rogue laughed somewhat now that she thought of it. So many things both before and after her date that had brought such grave stress and concern to her now seemed somewhat mundane since her mind had been allowed to process this major step in her life. And now that she looked back on it, she felt somewhat stupid that she drove herself so crazy with issues she now knew were all in her head to begin with.
"Yeah…Ah guess yer right about that," replied Rogue, "But Ah guess Ah was just so nervous…Ah mean, it's not like Ah'm over everything that happened to meh. What scared meh the most about the date was the thought of actually touching and bein' so close to somebody when after all these years, the only thing that's ever brought meh is pain."
"Well you don't have to worry about that anymore my friend!" proclaimed Kitty, "You're officially free from your prison and I'm sure you'll get used to it. It's a great feeling when you have somebody you can be so close to who can keep you so nice and warm in a way that no one else does…"
"Thinkin' of yer Russian heavyweight again, Kit?" quipped Rogue with an amused look as she heard the dreamy, valley girl tone in her voice that she was so familiar with.
"You know it!" she said, not making any qualms about how Piotr made her feel.
"Well I won't argue with ya on that," said Rogue, getting back to the details on her romantic life, "Ah may have been a little jumpy, but whatever touch we did feel really was beyond anythin' Ah ever could have imagined. It was like…Covering yerself in a warm blanket that made ya feel as though nothin' could hurt ya."
"Ooh, yeah…I know what you're talking about!" said Kitty in her dreamy tone, causing Rogue to roll her eyes somewhat, "So what about the end…Did you and Remy…"
"Kiss?" said Rogue, knowing full well from the look on her face what she was implying, "Yeah…We did."
"Oh my God!" said Kitty in an overly excited tone as she felt a new wave of excitement, "Ooh, how was it? You, like, have to tell me!"
"Calm down Kitty, yeesh!" said Rogue, thinking she was making too much a big deal out of this…Then again, this was Kitty she was talking to, "And if ya must know…It was really amazin'. Remy…Well, he's a great kisser, that's fer sure."
"I'll bet!" chirped Kitty, who seemed to still be brimming with energy over the details she was hearing, "Was it…Intimate? Or was it just one of those little goodnight kisses?"
"It was…Pretty intimate," said Rogue, her tone now sounding somewhat dreamy as well, "It's the first time Ah've ever been intimate with anybody…And haven't freaked out in any way, shape, or form. Remy just…Helped meh get past all those memories and feelings that still make meh sick every time Ah think about them…And gave meh somethin' more than Ah ever thought Ah'd be able to experience."
"Sounds like you really like him…" said Kitty, the look on her face now growing somewhat mischievous as she determined that there was probably more to what Rogue was describing when she talked about that one fateful moment with Remy.
"Well…Ah do like him," admitted Rogue, her face now blushing, "The man nearly died tryin' to save meh…He's the only one who's ever looked at meh and seen someone worth savin' to begin with."
"Yeah…But do you really like him? As in…Do you think Remy could be, like, the one?" asked Kitty, her tone getting more serious.
Rogue simply smiled as she thought about it. Ever since that moment before her world was changed forever with the Hellfire Club, she never thought she'd find anybody to like her for the curse that she was forced to live with…But Remy Lebeau saw past her powers…He saw the girl behind the powers. And he was willing to die to save that girl when she herself probably would never have found anything worth saving in her being given how she only used to hurt the people she got close to.
Before that moment, she had practically begged Remy not to make her feel things she knew would only lead to pain for the both of them…But in the end, not even that could have changed how she felt about him from the begin with. Only now since she had gained the ability the touch and the capacity to cope with the horrible things she had been through did she realize just how much her feelings for him were growing.
Now that they had gone on this date, it was truly starting to blossom in a way that went beyond her understanding. That kiss last night had rocked the foundations of her world…For it put into question her long held belief that she was destined to be alone. Now, there was somebody out there who liked her for who she was and who she connected with in a way she hadn't with anybody else. And now that Kitty had implied that there may be something deeper, Rogue actually considered that it may truly work…She may have actually found the one person she wanted to be with.
"Kit…Ah really can't say for certain now…" said Rogue after having given what she said some serious thought, "But…After that date…Maybe, just maybe…Ah don't know, Remy really could be that one special someone Ah thought Ah'd never have."
"Ooh, that's so awesome Rogue!" cooed Kitty, feeling so happy that her friend had found someone that made her so happy, "I knew you and Remy would be right for each other! I just knew it!"
"Thanks for the vote of confidence Kitty," said Rogue, hoping to calm her friend down before she had a heart attack, "But for now, Ah'll just have to wait and see…But personally, Ah really hope Ah can make it work despite all the shit Ah'm still dealin' with. Remy's a great guy…And a guy Ah really, really happen to like now…Ah just don't want anythin' to happen that could destroy everythin' before either of us has a chance to enjoy it…"
"Well try not to worry about that for now Rogue," said Kitty in a reassuring tone, "We've all survived hell with everything that's happened after all the shit we've been through, I can't even, like, imagine anything else coming along worse than before."
-Later that Day-
Emma had convinced Jean, Scott, and Vincent that they should go out on the town together. She had wanted to go out today with her friends, but it was still a bit strange to think of others as that since she hadn't really had any for the better part of her life. But she liked Jean even if she was a bit uptight at times, however she hoped to fix that. Then again, she was the perfect match for Scott, who Jean roped into this little outing in the first place. As for Vincent, she knew he needed to get out now and then and didn't need any convincing.
"Well, I know you all don't mind taking my car," Emma told them as they reached the foyer.
"Since when do you have a car?" Scott asked her and Jean was just as surprised.
"Why…Just today. Vince gave me a lift to the dealership where I had phone ordered a trendy little vehicle and it arrived today," she said, smiling at the memory of Vincent carrying her in his arms as they flew there was nice.
Scott was both shocked and surprised at that, "How did you afford that?"
She smiled over her shoulder, "Please darling, I have an extensive portfolio and investments all over the place. I hold shares in companies like Stark Enterprises for crying out loud. I can easily afford a simple car."
As they got to the front door Scott looked to Vince for collaboration and she smiled and nodded, "Oh yeah, she's a genius at that business stuff. I mean I let her handle my finances and already she's got me invested in a few things that turned out a little profit already. Trust me, she knows how to do it and she's helping with rebuilding the orphanage I grew up in with my friend Mary working there."
Scott was still a bit surprised and when they got out, his jaw dropped at the sight of a white Porsche in front of the mansion. He collected himself standing next to Jean, "You know…The fact it's white is the only thing that doesn't shock me," she smiled a bit and lightly slapped him on the arm as it was a running joke that Emma was the 'Snow White' of the mansion, although Emma didn't seem to mind it. They got in the car with Vincent up front with her as she put on a pair of shades while Jean and Scott got in the back.
They drove around Bayville, just enjoying the feel of the wind. Emma really wanted to get out of the mansion and she knew Jean didn't like to go out alone so she figured a 'double date' was in order. Besides, after living at the Institute for the first time she was finally having fun in her life. Like finding two girls that shared her love for fashion in Kitty and Jubilee, to a sisterhood if you will with Betsy and Jean, and of course the younger students were a source of amusement. But the biggest was the man sitting next to her with a smile on his face.
She liked seeing him happy and she could feel it to thanks to this 'link' they were forming. She could see the light scar of his cheek and remembered all those horrible times he had been dragged in bleeding or just hurt bad. He had made her happier then she had ever been in her life and had shown her what real love was.
Vincent was feeling the cool wind over his face, his eyes closed as he felt the freedom of the moment. After Project Prodigy, he knew what freedom truly meant and was very grateful for it. It had also been one of the things that gave him strength and he had swore once to never lose his freedom in spirit. Now he was free in a place that for the first time, he felt normal. Yes, he still considered Canada and the orphanage his first true home, but here he wasn't an outsider and he fit in without lying about what he was all the time. He had made new friends and above all, he found true love. Even after all the heartbreak and suffering, to find Emma and what they had was most likely the only reason he hadn't had a complete emotional breakdown by now.
He felt her all the time and that feeling of never being alone was something that he took comfort in. While in the back, Jean smiled as she accidentally picked up on their moods. It was strange and she wondered if this was what Emma and Betsy as well as Xavier picked up when Scott and herself were in the same room. She smiled at that thought as they drove on.
Elsewhere in Bayville, Gambit, in sensible jeans, a dark shirt, and dark shades so he blended in more in the hot weather was being dragged around by Kitty and Piotr the moment, "Why did Remy agree wit' dis?"
Kitty smiled sweetly at him, "Because you, like, totally need new clothing and I said I could help you look so totally awesome for Rogue."
"Ah, now he remembers," Gambit said holding a bag full of some clothing then looked to Piotr, "Den why are you here?"
"I'm here to hold Katya's purchases for her," he said knowing that she would have dragged him off too and would have used that sad puppy dog face on him that would have made him crumble at the sight of, "Besides, this way I can see you make a fool of yourself trying to shop." Gambit shot him a look that showed he didn't like that comment, although he had to admit the petite brunette did seem to have a way with making men do what she wanted. He guessed it was the fact she looked so sweet, kind, and innocent that would make most men help her out. He had to admit as a former player himself, she was good, but then again he really did need some new clothing.
What they didn't know was that two members of Sinister's group, Lady Deathstrike and Deadpool, were across the street in an alley watching them from the shadows. "Well look at that, we take out the girl and the guys won't be much of a problem if take the girl as a hostage."
Yuriko nodded in agreement and she saw the same young man that she had left for dead, she was surprised to see him alive and guessed fate had more in store for him it seemed. They walked into a clothing store and she looked at the mercenary, "I think that would be best. We can also take hostages inside if we need to."
"That's the way to think cute buns." She quickly placed one of the long claws at his neck in response to that comment. "What? They are and you can slit my throat all you like it will just grow back you know."
She growled in frustration, fo she didn't know why he persisted in these comments, "Keep your mouth shut for once then!"
"If I do, will I get a treat?" Wade smirked under his mask, "Maybe get some of that hot Japanese ass ya got there after?"
"Why do you persist in this? Do you find it amusing?" She growled at him.
"Hell No…Well…Maybe to see you get all worked up, but I honestly think you're one sexy mama."
She started at him for a minute and came to the conclusion he was telling the truth, "You…Are…Insane."
"Guilty as charged, now I got the perfect way in there," he told her pulling a device from his belt that he had for awhile now. He used it to get away from the Picard look-a-like, and that sexy ebony goodness he had been with.
Remy was trying on some clothing while Piotr waited as Kitty was looking at a jean skirt she had her eye on. "I think he would look good in that what do you think?" Piotr nodded then looked to his left to see who was talking to him and was surprised to see a man in red and black uniform and mask who was heavily armed just sitting next to him like it was normal, "Hey, you seen one of these before?"
"What?" He looked at the open hand to see a shiny metallic disk, but then Deadpool quickly slapped in on his forehead. He tried to do something, but the next thing he knew he was swallowed my darkness as the neural inhibitor knocked him out.
"Man I guess they grow them big and dumb in Russia," he said shaking his head.
Kitty turned around to see what was going on only to see Deathstrike behind her. The woman then tried a kick to her chest, but Kitty phased through it and froze upon seeing Deadpool with a gun to Piotr's head, "Just go easy and I don't splatter his brains all over the place."
Gambit came out with just a pair of his new pants and his eyes widened seeing Deathstrike, "Oh no, not you again!" He tried looking for his deck of cards, but they were literally in his other pair of pant. Then, he looked up to see Deathstrike with a long claw on Kitty's neck, "Petite, phase out of de way!"
"I…I can't or they'll kill him," she pleased with him and he looked to see a strange man waved to him with a gun pressed to the head of Colossus.
He looked at them and tried to think of something to do, but they had both Kitty and Piotr and he could only muttered one thing, "Merde."
Kurt & Wanda
Kurt and Wanda were in the forest just taking a walk together. She was glad that they had gotten over that thing with him when she had taken it too. They just walked in the woods, enjoying their time alone and holding each other's hand. She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed and smiled. Kurt wrapped his tail around her waist as well really enjoying the moment. He was doing better now at night since they had started to share a bed now and again. Sometimes she was the only reason he got a decent night's sleep.
Little did they know it was X23's job to sneak into the mansion grounds, seeing as she had been the only one to have done it once before. She was making her way through the forest area and just happened along two members of the X-Men, or at least she remembered one of them the blue on, but she girl was someone she hadn't seen before. However, Sinister made her read all the new files on them and she guessed this was Wanda and immediately knew she was dangerous.
She would have to take her out fast…Although she didn't want to do this, she wanted this thing out of her neck. But when she thought she had been out of range, he heard his thoughts telling her that she would get only one last warning about removing the device. So here she was ready to attack, although she took no pleasure in this.
Wanda and Kurt were just enjoying the moment then suddenly Wanda was kicked in her back sending her into a tree. "Vha-oofff!" Kurt had the wind literally kicked out of him as he fall back against a tree looking up and was surprised to see X23 again. 'Oh man…Not her again,' he thought, then saw her advance on Wanda while she was recovering.
He quickly teleported in front of her, but that and the fact he was still trying to breath and get air back into his lungs didn't help his balance or from him dodging a spinning kick to his face. The next thing he saw was the ground rushing up to his face. Wanda looked to see Kurt being kicked to the ground by some young girl, "Big mistake kicking my boyfriend around!"
She threw a few hex bolts at her, but she was fast…She was damn fast and agile at that. She dodged her attacks and then kicked off a tree in the air and spun and her heel was sent into the side of Wanda's head. She was about to get up and kick that girl's ass when she jumped on her back and then the last thing Wanda felt was something pressed on her head.
Kurt groaned and looked up in time for a foot to slam into his face turning his world into night.
Emma, Vincent, Scott, and Jean
Back with Emma and the others they had entered a café that was strangely empty with the exception of a man behind the counter who waved and smiled, "Why hello there, nice to see some customers,"
"Yeah, did you guys have a bomb scare or what?" Emma said earning an elbow from Jean. The blonde just mouthed 'what?' to her.
"That's alright, it's been a slow day. Take a seat and I'll be with you in a moment," the man behind the counter said.
The group sat down at a table and both Vince and Emma looked around a bit confused, "What's wrong?" Scott asked seeing them like this.
"It's just that we've been coming here all the time lately and it's never been this empty," Vincent said looking around. They had found this place on one of their dates and they really liked it. Maybe he was just paranoid, but something just felt…Off about this. They ordered their drinks and started talking, even though there was that feeling that someone was just off about it all.
Jean stiffened a yawn at the moment, "Oh sorry, I don't know why I feel so tired."
Scott yawned then too, "Oh man, must be catching then," he joked but then he did it again and the others were feeling light headed as well.
"Does…Anyone else feel…A little strange?" Vincent asked then as his head felt like it was swimming.
"Yeah actually…" Jean trailed off feeling dizzy.
"Is everything all right?" The man asked them smiling at them in a strange way that was kind of creepy.
Then Emma's eyes widened, "I can't read his thoughts! He's not projecting anything!" Jean knew what that meant and she tried too, but she got nothing and the last time that had happened was…At the College when she was kidnapped. Her heart froze and she thought 'oh no, not again…Please…Not again.' Over and over, she and the others tried to stand, but they all fell to the ground weak.
They looked up and to their horror saw him shift to a pale skinned, red eyes, and black armored form with a grin of sharp teeth. They heard his laughter as they all blacked out and Sinister smiled, for he had used his telepathy to keep people away as he knew Emma and Vincent usually came in here from his agents. But Jean and Scott were an unexpected bonus.
"You can come out now," he ordered and Gauntlet and Viper walked in wearing gas masks to protect them from the sleeping gas that Sinister had released from behind the counter that they had set up after knocking out the usual staff and placed them in the back.
It wasn't long until Sinister and his team were back flying off to his secret base with their 'passengers' strapped up in the back with all of them wearing that silver disk on their foreheads. He grinned to himself, for this had gone better then he had hoped and they had captured more mutants then he had planned for. Today was a good day in his book, but knew it was a bad day for Xavier.
Outside The Institute – Slayer
The damage had been done…The forces of darkness had made their next move. And now the Xavier Institute was in a state of chaos as the Hellfire forces made off with a small group of students. They had all been caught by surprise even though they had been warned. While it could have been many times worse, it still didn't make them any more successful in fighting them off.
Now, over the hectic atmosphere of the Xavier Institute, a purple haze formed just outside the perimeter of the area atop the long, stone wall that that lined the land. Through this mysterious, mystical haze, the mutant warrior known only as Slayer formed and stood atop the main gate overlooking the area. His all fists clenched and his all seeing eye glowed a bright golden yellow as he saw what happened flash through his fragile, mortal mind.
"Damn it…I'm too late," he cursed himself, even though he knew there was no way that this could have been avoided given the tenacity of the enemy involved.
Staying one step ahead of the darkness was no easy feat even for someone of his skill. He couldn't afford to reveal himself at this point or else he may tip off Selene or other Hellfire members. Having to hide in the haze of his mystic powers made it difficult for him to be where he needed to be without it working against him. Now, the Hellfire Club once again had some of the X-men in their possession and he only hoped that the strength he saw within them before could rise to the challenge once again during this far greater threat…Even if it was still not the major force behind all the haunting visions he saw through his all seeing eye.
"So much for warning and prevention…" said Slayer into the darkness of the night as he did a quick scan of all those who had made avoided capture and injury while noting those who were now missing, "I knew they would make their move…But I had no idea they would make it so soon. I wish I could do something…But I can't reveal myself…I need to stay hidden…For now."
With all the dark forces he had faced in the past, he had never come across one as threatening as this with the Hellfire Club. It was one of the few forces that he knew he could not fight on his own, but he refused to take it lying down even though he had been embroiled in numerous other battles with numerous other dark forces that he was forced to subdue. And he knew he could have done something…He knew his power could have contained, subdued, or perhaps even destroyed Hellfire Club and their minions from ever unleashing their wrath in the first place. But time and time again…He was reminded by forces far wiser and far more knowing that the only power capable of truly besting them was written in the scriptures…The champions that had defeated the dark lord, Apocalypse.
But even now, he couldn't believe that these kids…These growing adolescents that were still dealing with the same issues all teenagers their age deal with…Were the ones that such an ancient scripture depicted all those centuries ago. He had once considered going after Apocalypse himself early on, trying to take him down on his own before it could get out of hand like it nearly did. He knew his power may not have been strong enough to stop him completely, but he wanted to at least do something. However, both his all seeing eye and his spiritual master dissuaded him from doing so…Saying that it was necessary to see if the scriptures would manifest. And despite a great deal of anxiety on his part…In the end, they did at least in part.
Slayer was never one to have believed in fate…It was one of the key teachings of his master and a key part of his beliefs. But the X-men…The supposed team of Champions that were foretold in so many different cultures so many centuries ago…Had made the choices and found the strength that allowed them to rise to the challenge. It was still hard for him to believe, but they fulfilled every one of the requirements the scriptures foretold not through the power of destiny…But through the power of their souls.
It was still so amazing to the mutant warrior that so much could rest upon the weary shoulders of mere youths, many of which were still searching for their identity in this harsh, unforgiving world. Yet the all-seeing eye that he wielded never any lies and he knew what he was seeing. From their fight with Apocalypse to their survival of the Hellfire Club, he saw just how strong they truly were. They all fought for ideals that were so different from that which he fought for, but that didn't matter…All that truly mattered about any cause was simply that they believed in them. The X-men triumphed because of the strength of their souls and the firm belief of what they were fighting for. Whatever it was didn't matter to either him or the scriptures, because in the end…All that mattered was the sheer strength and virtue inherent in their souls both as individuals…And as a team.
He may have been a rather messed up mortal man forced to contend with wielding such great power. His involvement thus far with this growing tension between darkness and light was threatening to upset the balance already…But his instincts were telling him that if he didn't do something this time around, it would only get worse. He may not have been sure whether or not it was the right move on his part, but he trusted his instincts and right now…His instincts were telling him that if these supposed Champions could not rise to the challenge…Then the world they all lived in would be consumed by the forces of darkness.
"Darkness has made it's move…" he said to himself as the cloud of purple mist once again began to consume him, "But now…It's time I made mine."
NEXT UP CHAPTER 41: MEETING SINISTER